This 6th century monastery was one of the largest in all of Egypt! This
abandoned monastery near the Aga Khan Mausoleum on the west bank at
Aswan is considered to be notably typical of early Christian
Monasteries, and with perhaps thousands of residents, was one of the largest
Coptic Monasteries in Egypt. Building was begun in the 6th century,
but it is believed that most of it did not take place until the 7th century. It
was first dedicated to Amba Hadra (Amba Samaan, Anba Hadra), a bishop
of Aswan and saint of the late 4th century.
It was said that just after his wedding, he encountered a funeral procession which inspired him to live the remainder of his life as a hermit.

This fortress and Christian monastery originally had walls ten meters tall
and keeps, or towers, which were used as lookout posts against enemies.
The lower level of stone is mostly intact, but the upper
level of mud-brick has all but vanished. The monastery was rebuilt in
the 10th century, but destroyed in 1173 by Saladin, who feared that it
might serve as a refuge of marauding Christian Nubians who made forays
into southern Egypt.